Reflector for an electronic flash device and electronic flash device

Abstract

A reflector used in an electronic flash device that collectively emits direct light emitted from a light source and reflected light that has been reflected by a reflective surface onto a subject, and an electronic flash device that uses such reflector. The reflector includes a pair of first reflective surfaces that are composed of portions of a cylindrical curved surface and face one another, and a second reflective surface that is contiguous with the pair of first reflective surfaces and inside which a xenon lamp is housed. Contiguous portions where the pair of first reflective surfaces and the second reflective surface are contiguous are set closer to the opening of the pair of first reflective surfaces than a center of the xenon lamp. With this construction, by it is possible to maintain a predetermined optical performance while making the electronic flash device smaller and slimmer.

1. A reflector for an electronic flash device, comprising:
 a pair of first reflective surfaces that are composed of portions of a cylindrical curved surface and face one another; and 
 a second reflective surface that is contiguous with said pair of first reflective surfaces and in an inside portion of which a light source is housed, 
 wherein contiguous portions where said pair of first reflective surfaces and said second reflective surface are contiguous are set closer to an opening of said pair of first reflective surfaces than a center portion of the housed light source; and 
 wherein said second reflective surface comprises:
 a curved surface portion produced by setting the center portion of the light source as a center of a radius of curvature; 
 a pair of inclined flat surface portions that are contiguous with respective ends of said curved surface portion and extend in tangential directions therefrom; and 
 a pair of parallel flat surface portions that are substantially parallel with a center plane about which said pair of first reflective surfaces are symmetrical, said parallel flat surface portions intersecting said inclined flat surface portions. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A reflector for an electronic flash device according to  claim 1 , wherein said curved surface portion comprises a cylindrical surface portion that is cylindrical, and wherein said inclined flat surface portions extend in tangential directions from first intersection portions where extensions of lines that join the contiguous portions and the center portion intersect said cylindrical surface portion, and extend as far as second intersection portions where said parallel flat surface portions are intersected. 
     
     
       3. A reflector for an electronic flash device according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the contiguous portions where said pair of first reflective surfaces and said second reflective surface are contiguous is smaller than a diameter of said curved surface portion that forms part of said second reflective surface. 
     
     
       4. A reflector for an electronic flash device according to  claim 1 , wherein said second reflective surface is formed in an oval shape so that a position of the light source can be moved and adjusted along the center plane. 
     
     
       5. A reflector for an electronic flash device according to  claim 1 , wherein said
 pair of parallel flat surface portions extend substantially parallel with the center plane from perpendicular intersection portions where the radius of curvature intersects a perpendicular plane that passes the center portion and is perpendicular to the center plane; and 
 said pair of inclined flat surface portions extend in tangential directions from first intersection portions where extensions of lines that join the contiguous portions and the center portion intersect said curved surface portion, and extend as far as second intersection portions where said parallel flat surface portions are intersected. 
 
     
     
       6. A reflector for an electronic flash device according to  claim 1 , wherein said curved surface portion comprises an oval cylindrical surface portion produced by setting the center portion of the light source as a center of a radius of curvature; and
 wherein said pair of inclined flat surface portions extend in tangential directions from first intersection portions where extensions of lines that join the contiguous portions and the center portion intersect said cylindrical surface portion, and extend as far as second intersection portions where said parallel flat surface portions are intersected. 
 
     
     
       7. A reflector for an electronic flash device, comprising:
 a pair of first reflective surfaces that are composed of portions of a cylindrical curved surface and face one another; and 
 a second reflective surface that is contiguous with said pair of first reflective surfaces and in an inside portion of which a light source is housed, 
 wherein contiguous portions where said pair of first reflective surfaces and said second reflective surface are contiguous are set closer to an opening of said pair of first reflective surfaces than a center portion of the housed light source; and 
 wherein said second reflective surface comprises:
 a first curved surface portion produced by setting the center portion of the light source as a center of a radius of curvature; 
 a second curved surface portion that passes the contiguous portions and is obtained by displacing a center of a radius of curvature either closer to or further from the contiguous portions than the center portion of the light source; and 
 a pair of inclined portions that are contiguous with both sides of said first curved surface portion, extend in tangential directions from first intersection portions where extensions of lines that join the contiguous portions and the center portion intersect said first curved surface portion, and extend as far as said second curved portion that intersects a perpendicular plane that passes the center portion and is perpendicular with a center plane about which said pair of first reflective surfaces are symmetrical. 
 
 
     
     
       8. A reflector for an electronic flash device according to  claim 7 , wherein the center portion of the radius of curvature of said second curved surface portion is set at a point of intersection perpendicularly dropped to the center plane from the first intersection portions where extensions of lines that join the contiguous portions and the center portion intersect said first curved surface portion, or at a point of intersection near said point of intersection. 
     
     
       9. An electronic flash device comprising:
 a light source; and 
 a reflector that reflects light emitted from said light source on a reflective surface thereof, 
 wherein said reflector includes: 
 a pair of first reflective surfaces that form part of a cylindrical curved surface and face one another; and 
 a second reflective surface that is contiguous with said pair of first reflective surfaces and in an inside portion of which the light source is housed, and 
 contiguous portions where said pair of first reflective surfaces and said second reflective surface are contiguous are set closer to an opening in said pair of first reflective surfaces than a center portion of the housed light source; and 
 wherein said second reflective surface comprises:
 a curved surface portion produced by setting the center portion of the light source as a center of a radius of curvature; 
 a pair of inclined flat surface portions that are continuous with respective ends of said curved surface portion and extend in tangential directions therefrom; and 
 a pair of parallel flat surface portions that are substantially parallel with a center plane about which said pair of first reflective surfaces are symmetrical, said parallel flat surface portions intersecting said inclined flat surface portions. 
 
 
     
     
       10. An electronic flash device according to  claim 9 , wherein said curved surface portion comprises a cylindrical surface portion that is cylindrical, and wherein said inclined flat surface portions extend in tangential directions from first intersection portions where extensions of lines that join the contiguous portions and the center portion intersect said cylindrical surface portion, and extend as far as second intersection portions where said parallel flat surface portions are intersected. 
     
     
       11. An electronic flash device according to  claim 9 , wherein a distance between the contiguous portions where said pair of first reflective surfaces and said second reflective surface are contiguous is smaller than a diameter of said curved surface portion that forms part of said second reflective surface. 
     
     
       12. An electronic flash device according to  claim 9 , wherein said second reflective surface is formed in an oval shape so that a position of the light source can be moved and adjusted along the center plane. 
     
     
       13. An electronic flash device according to  claim 9 , wherein said
 pair of parallel flat surface portions extend substantially parallel with the center plane from perpendicular intersection portions where the radius of curvature intersects a perpendicular plane that passes the center portion and is perpendicular to the center plane; and 
 said pair of inclined flat surface portions extend in tangential directions from first intersection portions where extensions of lines that join the contiguous portions and the center portion intersect said curved surface portion, and extend as far as second intersection portions where said parallel flat surface portions are intersected. 
 
     
     
       14. An electronic flash device according to  claim 9 , wherein said curved surface portion comprises an oval cylindrical surface portion produced by setting the center portion of the light source as a center of a radius of curvature;
 wherein said pair of inclined flat surface portions extend in tangential directions from first intersection portions where extensions of lines that join the contiguous portions and the center portion intersect said cylindrical surface portion, and extend as far as second intersection portions where said parallel flat surface portions are intersected. 
 
     
     
       15. An electronic flash device comprising:
 a light source; and 
 a reflector that reflects light emitted from said light source on a reflective surface thereof, 
 wherein said reflector includes: 
 a pair of first reflective surfaces that form part of a cylindrical curved surface and face one another; and 
 a second reflective surface that is contiguous with said pair of first reflective surfaces and in an inside portion of which the light source is housed, and 
 contiguous portions where said pair of first reflective surfaces and said second reflective surface are contiguous are set closer to an opening in said pair of first reflective surfaces than a center portion of the housed light source; 
 wherein said second reflective surface comprises:
 a first curved surface portion produced by setting the center portion of the light source as a center of a radius of curvature; 
 a second curved surface portion that passes the contiguous portions and is obtained by displacing a center of a radius of curvature either closer to or further from the contiguous portions than the center portion of the light source; and 
 a pair of inclined portions that are contiguous with both sides of said first curved surface portion, extend in tangential directions from first intersection portions where extensions of lines that join the contiguous portions and the center portion intersect said first curved surface portion, and extend as far as said second curved portion that intersects a perpendicular plane that passes the center portion and is perpendicular with a center plane about which said pair of first reflective surfaces are symmetrical. 
 
 
     
     
       16. An electronic flash device according to  claim 15 , wherein the center portion of the radius of curvature of said second curved surface portion is set at a point of intersection perpendicularly dropped to the center plane from the first intersection portions where extensions of lines that join the contiguous portions and the center portion intersect said first curved surface portion, or at a point of intersection near said point of intersection.